Chapter 10
After that day, Nora barely had time to dwell on Arnold and Linda.
Leo had flooded her inbox with dozens of gigabytes of study materials, and she needed to absorb it all as quickly as possible.
After hours of reading, she set down a thick book and nestled into the recliner, exhaustion weighing her
down.
Her eyes fluttered shut, but just as her mind began to drift, her phone vibrated in her hand.
The screen lit up with Zoe’s name, her best friend and eternal source of adventure.
“Come out and play, Nora!” Zoe’s voice bubbled with excitement. “It’s the Moonlight Feast Festival! Everyone’s out partying under the full moon….you have to come.”
The Moonlight Feast Festival…the first full moon night of summer…was a sacred time for the wolves. It was a night of celebration, of feasts, music, and dancing under the moon’s soft silver glow.
Nora hesitated, memories swirling in her mind. It was during the Moonlight Feast Festival of her eighteenth year that she had first awakened her wolf.
“Go,” Lena, her wolf, urged gently. “You haven’t relaxed in ages. And this festival… it’s where it all began
for us.”
After a moment of deliberation, Nora gave in. She asked Zoe for her location, grabbed her car keys, and
headed out.
The drive was brief, and soon she arrived at the festival grounds.
The full moon hung low in the velvety sky, casting its serene light across the open field. Strings of colorful lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, their soft glow intermingling with the flicker of a grand bonfire at the center. Exquisite tents dotted the field, adorned with ribbons and banners. Wolves of all ages gathered, their laughter and song filling the night air.
As Nora stepped into the lively scene, she scanned the crowd for Zoe. But before she could find her, her eyes landed on someone unexpected… a small, bouncing figure she hadn’t seen in far too long.
It was Alex.
The golden wolf–head mark around his neck glinted in the firelight, a symbol of his lineage. Nora’s breath caught in her throat.
Aloha fathe
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Chapter 10
It had been weeks, perhaps longer, since Alex had last called or spoken to her. She had told herself it didn’t matter, that she had moved on from him and his father. But seeing him now, so carefree and happy, left her feeling hollow.
Nora took a deep breath as she told herself to start getting over the feeling and learn to let go gradually.
With that thought in mind, Nora didn’t go up to say hello, she just quietly followed the small figure that was bouncing happily in front of her.
“Alex, come here!”
A familiar voice broke through the chatter. Linda appeared, stepping into view with her flawless poise.
Alex’s face lit up as he ran to her, his arms flung wide. “Aunt Linda!”
He leaped into her embrace, clutching her tightly.
“Happy Moonlight Festival, Aunt Linda!” Alex exclaimed, pulling a small box from his pocket. “I made this for you!”
Linda gasped as she opened the box to reveal a delicate bracelet made of polished moonstones. Each stone gleamed softly, smoothed to perfection by Alex’s careful hands.
“You made this yourself?” Linda cooed, fastening the bracelet around her wrist. “It’s beautiful, Alex. Thank you so much! You’re amazing.”
Nora stood frozen, watching the scene unfold.
A pang of hurt struck her chest. She remembered the days she had tirelessly bandaged Alex’s scrapes, the nights spent comforting him when he was sick, the countless sacrifices she had made for him.
Yet here he was, gifting Linda a token of affection he had never thought to make for her.
Linda’s gaze shifted slightly, her expression softening further as Arnold stepped into view.
“Alex, let go of Linda,” Arnold said with a quiet authority. His tone wasn’t harsh, but firm, as though concerned about Linda’s comfort. “You’re too heavy to keep clinging to her like that.”
Nora blinked, stunned. Arnold’s voice was gentle, attentive in a way she had never experienced herself.
She had been married to him for over six years, yet he had never once displayed such consideration for her. Not when she had carried Alex on her hip for hours, leaving her arm sore for days.
Not when she had burned herself cooking his favorite meals or worked tirelessly to clean up after their
son.
Chapter 10
It was as though a veil had been lifted, revealing the cruel truth she had refused to see. Arnold wasn’t incapable of affection or care.. he simply chose not to extend it to her.
“Arnold, you’re here!” Linda straightened her hair and cocked her head, revealing the delicate curve of her neck, which was sparkling with a delicate necklace of moonlight gems. “Look, it’s the gift you gave me. I’ve worn it all night. Does it look good?”
“Beautiful,” Arnold replied simply, his eyes lingering on her neck.
Nora’s chest tightened. The necklace was clearly chosen with care, a personal and thoughtful gesture
Arnold had never bothered to make for her.
“Daddy!” Alex chimed in, bouncing on his toes. “When did you give Aunt Linda her gift? Why didn’t I know about it? You’re not allowed to visit her without me anymore. We’re family!”
Arnold certainly couldn’t take Alex along when he went to see Linda.
How many nights had he spent at her side? Nora didn’t know the exact number, but she had stopped counting long ago. Even this morning, they had kissed in the office. A stolen moment, brimming with the intimacy he had never shared with her.
Now, Linda clung to Arnold’s arm, her touch light and familiar, as though it had always belonged there.
She leaned in, her voice soft yet deliberate.
“Let’s go to
the center of the venue and grab something to eat,” she suggested, a smile playing on her lips.
Arnold gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable.
“Yeah, yeah!” Alex chimed in eagerly, bouncing on his toes. “Let’s go as a family for the holidays!”
Family.
The word sliced through Nora’s heart like a blade. She had spent years convincing herself that she could build a family with Arnold, that their bond as mates would eventually grow into love.
But here, under the silver light of the moon, the truth was undeniable.
Arnold had already chosen his family. And it didn’t include her.
As the trio laughed and chatted, Nora quietly slipped away, her chest aching with the weight of her realization. She had clung to hope for far too long.
Tonight, under the full moon that had once marked the start of her new life, she resolved to let go of the life that had only ever brought her pain.
Nora stood rooted to the spot, watching as they walked away. The image of their retreating figures
After 1 left, Alpha father and son went craz, bi
Chapter 10
blurred, swallowed by the crowd, yet the sting lingered,
Her phone buzzed In her hand, jolting her out of her trance.
“Noral Where are you?” Zoe’s voice rang out, vibrant and full of energy, a stark contrast to the heaviness. pressing down on Nora’s chest. “We’re at the center of the venue, dancing by the bonfire! Hurry up and join us!”
Nora blinked, swallowing the lump in her throat. She forced herself to respond, promising to meet Zoe
- 50011.
Following her friend’s directions, she made her way through the lively crowd, her steps heavy at first but quickening as the music grew louder.
When she arrived, the scene was almost surreal, Shirtless, well–built young men danced around the blazing bonfire, their movements primal and joyous, their laughter echoing under the full moon. The air was electric, a mix of smoke, wine, and raw energy.
Zoe was at the center of it all, her movements wild and unsteady, the telltale signs of having indulged in too much wine. Nora rushed to her, steadying her friend just as she nearly toppled over.
“Nora!” Zoe beamed, throwing her arms around her. “You made it! Isn’t this amazing?”
Nora smiled faintly, letting Zoe lean against her as the group around them erupted into cheers and laughter. Despite her heartache, the warmth of their welcome was hard to ignore.
What Nora didn’t notice was how close their celebration was to the restaurant where Arnold, Linda, and Alex had settled in for their meal.
Arnold, seated by the window, glanced outside as he lifted his glass to drink. His hand froze mid–motion.
There, not far from the bonfire, was Nora.
She was assisting Zoe, her arms wrapped around her friend’s waist to steady her. The flickering firelight danced across her face, highlighting the faint curve of her smile.
Arnold frowned.
“Something wrong?” Linda’s voice pulled his attention back inside. She tilted her head, studying his expression. “Is the food not to your liking?”
“Nothing.” Arnold replied, his tone neutral. “I just thought I saw someone I recognized.”
Linda shrugged, seemingly uninterested. She turned back to Alex, who was regaling her with a tale of his
recent adventures.
Chapter 10
Arnold lowered his head, poking at his plate absently. But the image of Nora lingered in his mind. After a few moments, he found himself glancing out the window again, almost unconsciously.
This time. Nora was gone.
Had he imagined it? Or had it truly been her?
Even if it had been, what did it matter? He had long since convinced himself that her presence–or
absence..was irrelevant to him.
Yet, as he tried to refocus on his meal, another thought crept in, unbidden..
Why were there so many men around her just now?
Chapter 11
